Lalitha John’s passion for helping families started the moment she became a mother. After a negative day care experience early on, she dreamed of one day opening her own school — a place where children would be nurtured, safe, and truly cared for. Years later, after a career in IT and a corporate layoff, she finally found her moment. Now, with a Children’s Lighthouse franchise coming to Aubrey, Texas, she’s stepping into her dream — and creating a brighter future for local families.

1851 spoke with John to learn more about her story, what drew her to the Children’s Lighthouse brand and her plans for the culture. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Lalitha John: I wanted to have my own day care when I was raising my own kids. I had a bad incident with my daughter going to a day care that didn’t work out, so I just decided to raise them myself until they were older. I actually considered starting a day care from home — helping other parents and making sure no one else had a bad experience like I did. Eventually, I started looking at franchises and found Children’s Lighthouse. It felt like the right fit. I knew it could help parents who are looking for superior childcare — and let’s face it, every parent wants that. I knew this would be a way I could contribute and be useful in the community.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

John: I’m working as an IT project manager and have been in that field for a while. I got laid off about two years ago, and I realized it was time to really do something on my own.

1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about it now that you’re in it?

John: Before I found Children’s Lighthouse, I was actually thinking about Montessori. But just getting certified would have taken two years. That’s when I stumbled into Children’s Lighthouse and saw that they would hold your hand through the whole process. It offers more of a package — and it just seemed like a great thing. There were already people who had done it and were successful, so I felt like I wouldn’t be starting from scratch.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about the company?

John: I absolutely loved the curriculum. When I went in and was shown around the center, I loved how they took care of the children and what they paid attention to. If you think about it, during their early years, kids spend a lot of hours with caregivers — and whatever those caregivers do is going to have a big impact. That was a big part of the draw for me. I was impressed with the curriculum, the structure, and the business model. There’s a director and an assistant director, so you’re not stuck in the weeds all the time. That’s a really great model — you’re available when they need you, but you can also focus on other things. I’m especially excited about helping with marketing and getting brand recognition out in the city. That’s going to help drive traffic to the business. And I love the people — I met the team, and sometimes it just makes sense to go and meet the people you’re going to be working with.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

John: I want to be involved in the community. I want to grow as much as I can. This is something that really has purpose. I’m passionate and motivated about it because it adds value to the families in our community. I wanted to do something where I can be happy at the end of the day — and when I make an impact, it’ll be one that carries through generations.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

John: I really had to grow up after I had my child. Until you have a child, you don’t realize how much responsibility you’re taking on. That really shaped me and brought me to where I am now.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

John: Go for it. Right now.

For more information on franchising with Children’s Lighthouse, visit: https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.

About Children’s Lighthouse:

The Children’s Lighthouse brand was established in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1997. The Children’s Lighthouse Early Learning Schools® brand promise to create a safe, fun, and happy place that gives children confidence, a sense of comfort today, and a lifelong love of learning, friendship, and community. Children’s Lighthouse focuses on age-appropriate and values based curriculums that focus on kindergarten readiness and creating lifelong learners. In 2025, Children's Lighthouse was ranked on the Entrepreneur 500 and as a Top Franchise for 2025 by Franchise Business Review. In 2024, Children's Lighthouse was featured on the Franchise Times Top 400.